This invention provides a photographing optical lens assembly, from an object side to an image side in order, comprising a first lens element with positive refractive power having a convex object-side surface, a second lens element with negative refractive power having a concave image-side surface, a third lens element with positive refractive power, a fourth lens element with negative refractive power having a concave image-side surface, both the two surfaces of the fourth lens thereof being aspheric. And an aperture stop is positioned between the first element and the second lens element. There are four lens elements with refractive power in the lens assembly.